The young Reds won the competition for the fourth time last season with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Manchester City in the final.
With a number of that squad now too old to take part, Lewtas will take his new-look U18s group to face Tottenham Hotspur in the third round on Monday night.
Read on for Lewtas’ pre-match thoughts on the start of a new Youth Cup journey…
On the start of a new Youth Cup adventure and the memories of winning it last season…
It was a real whirlwind season really and it wasn’t until the end of it that we could sit back and reflect on what was a fantastic journey. For a number of boys in the squad and who played in the final I have worked with them since they were 11. It was a fantastic way for the majority of that group to finish their youth careers, it's just the beginning for them and they can now kick on. But for a new crop of players this season it’s a new start and it’s exciting.
On the challenge of Tottenham away in the third round…
One thing I have said to the lads is it doesn’t matter what draw you get as you have got to play the best teams. That’s the same for Tottenham as it is for us. In last season’s final away to City there were moments in that game where we needed to stick in it which we did ever so well. Tottenham is a fantastic fixture and it’s one we are looking forward to. We are all really excited for it. We have seen them play and they have got some good players but so have we. It’s quite a stellar tie in the third round and it is our job to make sure we navigate the fixture to the best of our ability. This group is a new group. I suppose from the outside we will be defending the competition, it’s our trophy, but this is a new group and this is their journey and they have to navigate their way through their youth team career. I’m sure last year’s run and final will be mentioned across the course of the preparation for this game but this is separate and this is their new journey. It’s important that this new group try and put their stamp on this competition.
On a big opportunity for some of the new players in the group to express themselves…
Last year’s group did do ever so well and a few of our boys are trying to step up and that’s the way it is. The other boys left the shirt in a really good place for this group to pick it up and kick it on and I think they really have. Our league campaign and the way the boys have been playing has been really positive. The boys have been going about their work really quietly. Tottenham is a chance for the players to step up and maybe make a bit of a name for themselves on the evening. It’s cup football so there’s no recovery from it. I think the boys last year realised it early on because we did have a scare against Portsmouth. We scored right at the end and I think that really set the lads in a good position for the rest of the competition. You don’t get second chances in this competition.
On what his message to the players will be before they step out at the Lamex Stadium…
We will prepare properly during the week and in terms of final messages I think I’ve got to choose quite carefully because we are defending the cup, but at the same time I want these boys to go on and write their own story, so I think how we do that and how we frame that will be important. We will be doing our homework, as they will on us, and be preparing to the best of our ability. It will be really important we get the boys ready in the right frame of mind ready to perform on Monday night. We’ll see where we go but we’ve certainly got to make sure we are at our best and look after our own performance. If we can do that I believe we are a match for anyone.